Archive for the ‘Dedicated Server Hosting’ Category

Dedicated web hosting services can provide you with many features that aren’t available on lower-end forms of web hosting and although these additional features are what make dedicated web hosting services slightly more expensive, they are the usually the reason for considering dedicated hosting over shared web hosting. Although VPS servers and dedicated servers offer the same core feature in terms of a dedicated web hosting environment, both have additional features and offer the dedicated web hosting in different ways which enable web hosting providers to offer both forms of hosting as dedicated web hosting that are pitched at different target audiences. As well as providing you with greater uptime, a dedicated web hosting service will also be able to provide you with a more secure web hosting experience because you will be the only one using your web hosting environment unless you wish to share it with anyone else intentionally. In addition to that, you will also be able to install the applications of your choice in a dedicated web hosting environment, allowing you to customize your dedicated web hosting service to meet your unique needs in every way; no other form of web hosting will allow you to do this and you can also benefit in some cases from web hosting companies that will allow you to choose the exact resource allocations that you receive.

Reliability

The reliability provided by a dedicated hosting service is probably the most important advantage that businesses stand to benefit from when investing in a VPS server or a dedicated server. As you will be the only one using your dedicated web hosting environment, you will have full access to the guaranteed resources that you are provided with and will be able to monitor the resource usage on your server so that you can sort out any stability issues before they compromise the reliability of your server hosting service. Uptime is important for most dedicated hosting customers because downtime can often mean lost revenue, in turn costing a business money and can also reduce the number of returning visitors.

One of the best ways to ensure a high level of reliability is to choose a dedicated hosting plan that can offer you an SLA (Service Level Agreement). An SLA will outline the level of uptime that you can come to expect from your web hosting service each month, but in reality all web hosting providers should aim to offer 100% uptime even though this will never be guaranteed. SLAs also offer compensation if the uptime provided is below the level set out in the SLA, although this will be dependent on the web hosting provider that you are purchasing your service form.

Security

The security provided by a dedicated hosting environment will benefit anyone who will be able to make the most of a dedicated hosting environment as a the isolation provided means that you won’t have to worry about others users on the same server as you causing problems with the use of unsecure websites or weak passwords. Whether you are using a VPS server or a dedicated server, you will have full control over who has access to your server meaning that you can prevent unauthorized access fairly easily. Furthermore, one of the main ways that hackers gain access to servers these days is through compromised web scripts; as you are going to be the only person using your server, it will be easy for you to check the code that your website has been developed with to ensure that no weak code has been used that could be used to potentially compromise your VPS server or dedicated server.

Dedicated Web Hosting Environment

The dedicated web hosting environment provided by a dedicated hosting service is likely to be the most important feature for most people and will be the reason that many choose to upgrade to a dedicated hosting service. A dedicated web hosting environment will provide you with isolation from other users and you will have your own guaranteed resources that you will be able to use as per your wish; if you opt for a dedicated server then the resources that you are provided with will be physical hardware resources, as opposed to VPS servers that simply use virtual resources from the hosting node.

Regardless of whether you choose to use a Windows server or a Linux server, you will be provided with a dedicated web hosting environment. Windows server users will be able to access their dedicated hosting environment via Remote Desktop, enabling to manage their server directly from the Windows GUI; for some users this may be seen as a simpler way of managing a server rather than using a command line interface. Linux servers users will be able to manage their servers using the command line based SSH interface, available with all Linux distributions.

In conclusion, reliability, security and the dedicated web hosting environment provided by a VPS server or dedicated server are the three most important features that a dedicated hosting service will be able to provide you with. Although shared web hosting services are generally of a good specification, they aren’t able to offer you the same level of independence that a VPS server or dedicated server can offer and won’t be able to beat a dedicated hosting service in the areas of reliability and security to any extent.

Although dedicated web hosting services are going to set you back more than shared web hosting plans, the cost of a VPS server or a dedicated server can be easily justified when you consider the important features that you will have available at your disposal. Furthermore, the level of support that you will be provided with when you choose a dedicated hosting service will enable you to make the most of the web hosting service that you have invested in, because at the end of the day you want to be sure that you are receiving good value for money from your web hosting service.

VoIP servers are being implemented by many businesses as a way of cutting costs because moving away from analogue telephone systems to more modern digital systems will allow businesses to streamline their communications systems to provide better value for money. With many businesses dealing with hundreds or even thousands of phone calls every day both internally and externally, it is important for the IT departments of these businesses to guarantee that the right provisions are in place to ensure that all of these calls are connected and that the number of calls that are dropped is kept to a minimum.

VoIP Server Software

As a VoIP server hosting customer, you will have the opportunity to choose between two different applications that will be able to provide you with a satisfactory VoIP hosting experience. These two applications consist of:

Asterisk – this is one of the oldest VoIP applications available and is often used by small-medium enterprises to create Private Branch Exchanges (PBX) so that employees are able to communicate between one another internally easily – as Asterisk is an open source application, it is highly cost effective because businesses won’t need to pay to use it which will allow them to keep their costs to a minimum – furthermore, when you consider that Asterisk is designed to run on open source Linux distributions you are able to come to the conclusion that by choosing Asterisk you will be saving yourself a lot of money over using a traditional analogue telephone system

Trixbox – this is an management interface built on top of Asterisk and provides you with a complete suite of tools that will allow you to professionally manage your VoIP server – Trixbox has been developed using PHP and MySQL meaning that it can be hosted on any server, but most importantly the interface will work seamlessly on any Linux server that is running Asterisk as it has been optimized for use with the Apache web server – Trixbox includes a package manager that will allow you to install an array of other applications alongside the application.

Benefits of Using VoIP

Digital communications can provide businesses with a wide variety of benefits over analogue communications in this day and age, including:

Clear communications – if you are talking to somebody over a digital connection then they’re likely to sound a lot clearer than they would over a standard analogue connection because the quality of the signal won’t degrade over distance as is the case with standard analogue connections, although the quality of the input and output will depend on the hardware that is being used

Low-cost implementation – implementing VoIP systems for the first time can be fairly low cost because the applications required are all free to use whilst the cost of a decent dedicated server is fairly low meaning that you shouldn’t end up paying too much to use VoIP systems – if you have your own IT department then you can cut costs further by using your own staff to configure your VoIP dedicated server for you, although if you don’t have such resources then any good web hosting provider will be able to assist you

Reduced long-term costs – if you are using analogue systems then the chances are that you need to pay continual line rental and then there’s also the high cost of replacing defective equipment – with a VoIP server hosting solution you won’t have many long term costs except what you are paying for your dedicated server and internet connection because you have the choice to either provide your staff with new telephones so that they are able to access the new system or alternatively you can train them to use software applications that will provide the same level of functionality, but will save your business money.

In conclusion, VoIP server hosting will provide you with an opportunity to make the most of what digital and internet communications have to offer. During a time where most businesses are looking to cut their costs, investing in technology such as VoIP hosting will allow businesses to cut their costs whilst improving the level of service that they are able to provide their employees with access to. If you are unsure of how VoIP hosting could fit into your business, it is recommended that you contact a web hosting company that will be able to provide you with a consultation on how VoIP hosting will benefit you.

Windows is the world’s most popular operating system that is used on the desktop and in the server environment. As part of its role in the server environment, Windows is widely used by web hosting companies to produce web hosting plans that offer compatibility with Microsoft applications and technologies. Along with Linux, these two operating systems form the basis of the mainstream web hosting industry in terms of the web hosting plans that are offered and the features that are available.

ASP.NET Web Hosting

When developing websites that will make the most of the Windows operating system, the best option is to use ASP.NET as this is a scripting framework that has been developed by Microsoft for use exclusively with Windows. ASP.NET’s benefits vary and are limited, but include:

You will elevated access to the Windows operating system with additional support offered for developers utilizing the full feature set of ASP.NET as opposed to creating their own controls and components

All scripts should simply work with IIS and Windows if they have been developed correctly, without the need for any additional modifications to guarantee full compatibility, as this can be an issue when using certain scripting languages with the Windows operating system.

Microsoft SQL Server Database Hosting

The purpose of a database server such as Microsoft SQL Server is to provide your web pages and scripts with a common location that they can all access to enable them to process the relevant data for display. Databases can be used to store information of all types so that it can be re-used again and again, benefitting websites that rely on information that is submitted by visitors.

The benefit of using Microsoft SQL Server as your database backend is that it is relatively simple to create a cluster of MSSQL servers that can then be used to serve your content as required. By developing an internal network that can link multiple database servers together, you are creating a fail-proof solution that is also scalable to cope with growing demand on your website.

When compared to MySQL Server, the disadvantage of choosing to use a commercial database hosting alternative such as Micrsoft SQL Server is that you have to pay for the license to use it. The cost of MSSQL Server will depend on the version of the software that you choose to use as well as how many licenses you purchase, but for the most part the cost is justifiable through the means of the reliability provided by a commercial platform and the support that is available for when something goes wrong.

Microsoft Exchange Server Hosting

Businesses looking for corporate email solutions are likely to have Microsoft Exchange Server on their list of solutions to consider. Microsoft Exchange Server is a suite of applications that provides businesses with a central email, calendaring, contact and user management database that can be accessed through various means, although for the most part it is designed for integration with Microsoft Outlook on the desktop.

The main features of Microsoft Exchange Server include:

Access to the “Outlook Web Access” web client provides users with access to their email, calendars and contacts on the move through any web browser removing the need for constant use of the Outlook desktop application

The application can be hosted either on a single server or can be scaled to include multiple servers, allowing you to tap into resources provided by SANs (storage area networks) as well as those of additional servers through the means of a clustered configuration

An Active Directory based user authentication system allows you to provide users with a single login that will provide them with access to not only their emails, but also any Windows desktop computer within your business.

In conclusion, the anatomy of Windows web hosting provides you with an opportunity to experience new technologies include ASP.NET and Microsoft SQL Server to aid you with the development of your website. In addition to being able to develop newer and more functional websites, Windows is also the platform for businesses to use if they are looking to improve internal communications through the means of Microsoft Exchange Server, an application that is available as an optional extra with Windows dedicated servers.

A VoIP server allows businesses to transfer their traditional phone systems over to a dedicated server based system that will not only allow them to reduce their overheads but will also provide them with a more stable and complete phone solution. As well as providing you with a better quality of communications, a VoIP server will offer you a central location from which you can control your internal communications systems with ease; however, it is recommended that you have past experience if you wish to manage a VoIP server because it may not be as easy as you think it to be. If your staff are able to communicate with one another in a more efficient manner then this could lead to improved productivity, meaning that your employees will be able to focus on their work a lot more rather than having to spend time in meetings as this can be compensated by telephone calls instead. There are various options to choose from when configuring a VoIP server meaning that you should do your research beforehand to ensure that you end up with a final configuration that will be able to meet your requirements as you expect.

What are the benefits of using a VoIP server?

There are many benefits of using a VoIP server over a standard telephone system for many businesses, large and small. Such benefits include but are not limited to:

Cost effective – most standard telephone systems are expensive to fit and configure, and on top of this you often need to train employees on how to use them to make the most of your investment – VoIP based telephone systems aren’t nearly as expensive as they can run over your existing network seamlessly without affecting any network traffic, this also allows them to be upgraded without the need for any re-wiring to be done or any hardware to be replaced as the only upgrade that will need to take place is the software on the server that you are using

Improved quality – digital communication systems are guaranteed to offer you a better quality of communication than traditional analogue based systems – with a VoIP server all of your voice traffic will be running over standard internet and network connections to your VoIP server at which point it will be forwarded to the correct location for the call to be answered – in a situation where you are using a standard analogue telephone system, your calls will also be transferred to an exchange but this will be done over copper cables meaning that the quality of the signal will be lost the further it has to travel

Increased productivity – if you are able to offer your employees another way in which they can communicate with each other instantly, they are going to be more productive because they can spend the time that they would have used in meetings focusing on completing important work – if your employees are able to increase their output then this will help to boost your business’s revenue and in turn the profit making it appeal more to investors, this coupled with your reduced costs can only benefit your business in the long term.

The benefits of VoIP server hosting show that it is worth investing in dedicated server hosting if you wish to upgrade the communications structure of your business to something that is more fitting for the 21st century. It will take time to configure a VoIP server to meet your communication needs perfectly, although once done you will start to realize the true benefits of being able to use a communication system that is highly unlikely to fail.

What are the disadvantages of using a VoIP server?

There are also disadvantages to using a VoIP server, and after reviewing these you may find that a VoIP server isn’t the best option for your requirements. Such disadvantages include:

Cost to setup – although a VoIP server may be cost effective in the long term, you will need to consider the cost of purchasing a dedicated server and the configuring it to function as a VoIP server – although some web hosting companies will provide you with a ready-configured solution that you just need to integrate into your existing infrastructure, you may be required to install and configure your server yourself if you purchase a plain dedicated server from a web hosting company

Server management – once you have established your VoIP server, you are then in charge of its up-keep, that is unless you have chosen to go for a managed dedicated server hosting service as web hosting companies tend to play a larger role in the support and management offered to fully managed hosting customers – if you are going to manage your own dedicated server then you should be well versed in server management and should have used your chosen operating system before, in this situation the operating system in question is likely to be a Linux distribution

Training – depending on the system that you wish to implement alongside your VoIP dedicated server, you may have to train employees to work with the new system which could be inconvenient because it means that you will have to take employees away from their jobs simply to train them on how to use a new phone system and this will mean reduced output and therefore less revenue – you will also need to consider that it will cost you to retrain employees.

In conclusion, a VoIP server is a dedicated server running the software and additional hardware necessary to provide your business with a fully integrated and modern telephone system. VoIP dedicated servers will allow you to take your communications systems into the next era by converting traditional analogue systems over to digital systems that will be able to function over your existing internal computer network. Although there is a lot to learn with VoIP server hosting, you will realize that it is highly beneficial the moment that you decide to embrace it as part of your business’s internal infrastructure.

A dedicated web hosting service can provide you with a wide variety of benefits that will allow you to develop your website to a new level to increase the number of visitors that you receive and to ultimately increase the revenue that you receive. The term dedicated web hosting is used by web hosting companies to promote their VPS server and dedicated server hosting offerings, primarily because these are the two forms of web hosting that can offer a dedicated web hosting environment whilst all other forms of web hosting can only offer a shared web hosting environment. When compared to other forms of web hosting, dedicated web hosting services are far more powerful and provide you with great room for expansion if this is what you are after; alternatively, a dedicated web hosting package will allow you to use applications and services that aren’t available with shared web hosting packages to increase the functionality of your website. As a dedicated hosting customer you are also offer far more options; as well as being able to save money through providing yourself with support as an experienced user, you can also vary your VPS server or dedicated server to match your specific requirements in terms of the resources purchased.

Dedicated web hosting is a term that can be applied to both VPS server hosting and dedicated server hosting because either of these forms of web hosting can provide you with a dedicated web hosting environment. A dedicated web hosting environment provides you with the ability to install any applications of your choice so that you are able to customize your web hosting service to become something that you want it to be, rather than having a web hosting environment that has been configured in the eyes of your web hosting provider. It is very easy to take advantage of dedicated web hosting because as well as being able to choose the applications that you use, you can also purchase the resources that you require rather than having to pay for hosting resources that you are never going to use up, as is the case with purchasing pre-determined web hosting services; with a VPS server you can easily purchase extra virtual resources as per your need, whilst with a dedicated server you can always choose to purchase additional hardware for your dedicated server. For most businesses the upgrade to dedicated web hosting is highly beneficial in itself because it constitutes a good reason for expanding the operations of their website.

There are many different hardware features that make up a VPS server hosting service or a dedicated server hosting service and it is important for you to get the right balance of resources and features so that you are able to configure a server hosting solution that you can deem as appropriate for your needs. Although a VPS server may perform differently to a dedicated server, the principles are still the same and you are still provided with guaranteed resources that can be scaled as per your requirements. Dedicated servers can be a lot harder to configure during the order process because as well as being presented with multiple hardware options, there are different hardware configurations to choose from such as different hard drive configurations (such as RAID). As with any form of web hosting, you will also be presented with a choice of operating systems; Linux and Windows are offered by most web hosting companies providing dedicated web hosting and it is important for the choice to be there because all web hosting customers will have different technical requirements when you consider the number of different applications and scripting languages that are available for use these days.

There are many benefits to using server hosting above all lower forms of web hosting, despite the fact that a server hosting service will set you back more than a shared or reseller web hosting package. For businesses that are outgrowing their shared web hosting package, a VPS server or dedicated server will be able to provide them with the resources necessary to host a large scale website without the need to upgrade the hosting server for a long time to come. A VPS server or dedicated server will require skill to be managed properly, but of you are knowledgeable with server operating systems then managing a server should come naturally to you easily; however, for the less experienced then managed server hosting services are available an extra premium, plus you need to choose a very good web hosting company to receive a good level of support as a fully managed customer. Server hosting is available from any large web hosting company; smaller web hosting companies often struggle to offer VPS servers and dedicated servers because of the level of support needed and the level of technical knowledge that is required on their part, furthermore larger web hosting companies have the capital required to offer a reliable network and support infrastructure.

The only web hosting service capable of offering power and performance at a high level is a dedicated server and although the most expensive form of web hosting available, for businesses that rely on their website and email services to provide them with a way to communicate with their customers and to promote themselves then the cost is easily justified. A dedicated server is the only form of physical web hosting available from any web hosting company because all other forms of web hosting are virtual to some extent; although this is the main reason for the high price tag, it does mean that you are able to extend the resources of a dedicated server to greater heights to achieve the dedicated hosting environment that you require. If you wish to make the most of a dedicated server then it is important for you to guarantee that your server will be managed properly; if you are an experienced dedicated server user then this means choosing the operating system that you are familiar with to ensure that you won’t face any management issues, or if you lack the skills required to manage a server properly then you can consider fully managed dedicated server hosting.

A business hosting package is designed to captivate businesses to make the most of their online presence because the internet is able to provide them with a much bigger target audience if advertised properly meaning that they have the opportunity to increase their revenue streams significantly. Business web hosting services are aimed at businesses that wish to establish an online presence using a reliable web hosting service that they can be sure will serve their website to potential customers at all times of day because downtime can easily mean lost revenue for even the smallest of businesses. The cost of a business hosting package can vary depending on the exact form of web hosting that you choose to use; a basic business hosting package in a shared web hosting environment is going to be the cheapest option available whilst the most expensive option that is only really suitable for bigger businesses is dedicated server hosting. As well as considering the resources of the server, you should also take into consideration the service that is offered by any web hosting company that you could be seriously considering; as a business it is important for you to be guaranteed the best level of service possible so that you can be sure that you will receive good value for money as well as a high quality web hosting service.